China rejects ‘interference’ in HK after EU concerns

Beijing: China rejected “any foreign intervention” in Hong Kong after the European Union (EU) warned of “very negative consequences” if the controversial national security law was implemented in the city.

“We oppose any foreign interference in this matter,” said Wang Lutong, director-general of European Affairs at China’s Foreign Ministry, adding that the interests of European companies in the city would not be affected.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the implementation of the law, whose final approval is expected by the end of this month, could have “very negative consequences”, reports Efe news.

Her comment came after she and EU Council Charles Michel had a video meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

Wang said that the national security law for the semi-autonomous city, passed by China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) on May 28, will allow Hong Kong to regain its prosperity, which was in the interest of all.

The NPC Standing Committee plans to pass the legislation so that it comes into effect on July 1, the 23rd anniversary of the city’s handover from the UK to China.

Wang added that the issue was an internal matter so any interference was unwelcome.

In her remarks, Von der Leyen had said that China and the EU “continue to have an unbalanced trade” and urged “more ambition on the Chinese side” to conclude negotiations on the bilateral pact.

The EU also reiterated that it considered Hong Kong and human rights in China “non-negotiable” and, after reviewing some specific cases with the Chinese leaders, said that it had raised concerns about the new national security law Beijing intends to enforce on Hong Kong, which it believes will jeopardize its autonomy.

Wang denied that the human right’s situation in China was deteriorating

Image courtesy of Photography By Woolf

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